Blues Yodel #5
Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash Lyrics

The lyrics to Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash's "Blue Yodel" are part of a larger musical tradition of "yodel" songs in country and blues music. In this specific song, the lyrics tell the story of a man who is frustrated and tired of his living situation. He asks his mother where she was when the train passed by their home, indicating that he may have missed an opportunity to leave his current living situation. The man then yodels about his travels, expressing his desire to find a new home and possibly a partner ("gonna get me a mama / Lord, I ain't never seen"). The last verse speaks to the man's desperation and willingness to abandon even his possessions if it means escaping his current situation ("Throw my trunk out the window / Let the house burn on down").

Beyond the lyrics, "Blue Yodel" is significant in its collaboration between two legendary artists, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. The song was recorded during a session in 1969 but was only released in 2020 as part of the posthumous release "Bob Dylan - 50th Anniversary Collection 1970." Interestingly, the song was originally written and performed by Jimmie Rodgers, known as the "father of country music," in the 1920s, and Dylan and Cash likely drew inspiration from that original recording. In fact, many of the elements of the song, such as the use of yodeling and 12-bar blues structure, are hallmarks of Rodgers' music. The song is also notable for its catchy yodeling refrain, which is something of a musical signature for both Dylan and Cash.